Colombian Caribbean Bathymetry for an OTEC System Location

Abstract

This article presents the creation of bathymetric cartography for San Andrés, Providencia, Santa Catalina, and the Colombian Caribbean to find suitable areas for implementing an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system. The methodology to obtain the bathymetry uses data collection, digitization, and interpolation. The data are processed using the Surfer® software; in this way, the digital terrain model (DTM) maps are generated for each sector. The objective is to find the minimum distance to reach a depth of 1000 m since this is the distance where a temperature difference of 20 ∘C is obtained. Thus, it is possible to identify suitable areas to locate an onshore or offshore plant in Santa Marta, Barranquilla, southwestern and northwestern San Andrés, the western part of Santa Catalina, and the southwestern part of Providencia.

Keywords

• bathymetry
• Colombian Caribbean
• OTEC system